Main Entry: odd
Pronunciation: äd
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English odde "odd," from an early Norse word oddi (noun) "a point of land, triangle, odd number"1: being only one of a pair or set <an odd shoe>2: somewhat more than the number mentioned <50-odd years ago>3 a: being any number that cannot be divided evenly by 2 <1, 3, 5, and 7 are odd numbers> b: marked by an odd number <an odd year>4: additional to or apart from what is usual, expected, or planned on <odd jobs>5: not usual or traditional : STRANGE <what an odd thing to do> - odd·nessnounWord History In the early Norse language, the word oddi was first used to mean "a point of land." Then, because one corner of a triangle looks something like a point of land sticking out into the sea, oddi came to mean "triangle." A triangle that has one long point, like a point of land, may be thought of as having two paired angles and one angle left over. In time, the Norse came to call something that was not matched or paired up "oddi." This was used for an odd number, one left over after all other numbers were paired up. It was also used for an odd man, one who in a voting situation could break a tie with his vote. When the word was taken into English in the 14th century, it had the meaning of an odd number like 3, 5, or 7 that cannot be divided evenly by 2. Later it came to mean something that stood out from others as being different or strange.